Billy McCracken
Encyclopedia
Billy McCracken (29 January 1883, Belfast
– 20 January 1979) was a Northern Irish
association football player. His position was defender
.
McCracken played for the English club Newcastle United
from 1904 to 1924, helping them win three League titles and the FA Cup. McCracken was so adept at catching the opposing teams forwards offside that he forced a change in the rules of the game.
In total he played 432 games for Newcastle, scoring 88 goals. After leaving Newcastle he went on to become Hull City
manager in 1923 and he took them to the FA Cup semi-final in 1930. He left the club a year later.
He later had a short term in charge of Gateshead F.C.
, before managing Millwall F.C.
from 1933–1936. He later went on to manage the now defunct Aldershot F.C.
McCracken is probably the only player who caused the Football Association to change the Laws Of Football when, as a centre-half at Newcastle, he masterminded the technique of making opposition forwards ruled "offside" when the rules stated that 3 defenders must be between the attacking player and the goal line. So successful was MacCracken's defensive ploy that the Offside Rule was changed to "2 defenders" between the foremost attacker and the goal line".
His team mates while playing for Ireland included Archie Goodall
, Billy Scott, Jack Kirwan and Robert Milne
.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
– 20 January 1979) was a Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
association football player. His position was defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
McCracken played for the English club Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
from 1904 to 1924, helping them win three League titles and the FA Cup. McCracken was so adept at catching the opposing teams forwards offside that he forced a change in the rules of the game.
In total he played 432 games for Newcastle, scoring 88 goals. After leaving Newcastle he went on to become Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
manager in 1923 and he took them to the FA Cup semi-final in 1930. He left the club a year later.
He later had a short term in charge of Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
, before managing Millwall F.C.
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
from 1933–1936. He later went on to manage the now defunct Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
McCracken is probably the only player who caused the Football Association to change the Laws Of Football when, as a centre-half at Newcastle, he masterminded the technique of making opposition forwards ruled "offside" when the rules stated that 3 defenders must be between the attacking player and the goal line. So successful was MacCracken's defensive ploy that the Offside Rule was changed to "2 defenders" between the foremost attacker and the goal line".
His team mates while playing for Ireland included Archie Goodall
Archie Goodall
Archibald Lee Goodall , commonly referred to as Archie Goodall, is a former Irish footballer who played for, among others, Derby County and Ireland. Goodall made 423 appearances and scored 52 goals for County...
, Billy Scott, Jack Kirwan and Robert Milne
Robert Milne (footballer)
Robert George Milne is a former footballer who played for the Gordon Highlanders, Linfield and Ireland during the 1890s and early 1900s. Born in Scotland, Milne was stationed in Ireland with the Gordon Highlanders and played 7 games for the regimental football team as they won the Irish Cup in 1890...
.
As a player
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
- Football League championship: 1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09
- FA Cup winner: 19101910 FA Cup FinalThe 1910 FA Cup Final was the 39th FA Cup final. It was contested by Barnsley and Newcastle United. It took two matches to determine a winner. The first took place at Crystal Palace in south London on 23 April 1910 and the second on 28 April at Goodison Park in Liverpool.-Barnsley:Home teams listed...
- FA Cup finalist: 1908, 19111911 FA Cup FinalThe 1911 FA Cup Final was the 40th FA Cup final. It was contested by Bradford City and Newcastle United. The first game resulted in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace...